10 students of Jalna, Aurangabad create award-winning robots

They came from schools in small towns and built a robot of 1,200 parts.

They came from schools in small towns and built a robot of 1,200 parts.

In one of the first robotics competition held in India, 10 students from two schools in Jalna and Aurangabad were declared winners for building robots.

Participants, who came from seven schools in Maharashtra — two of those were from Thane — had to create a competitive robot from a kit of 1,200 parts provided by the organisers.

“The competition was to inspire science and technology in youth, specifically from underprivileged schools and regions,” said Harshbeena Zaveri, President, NRB Bearings, which oragnised the competition and provided mentors to the students.

Students of Saraswati Bhuvan High School, Aurungabad and Chandulal Tribhuvandas Manilal Kevalda Gujarati Vidyalaya, Jalna were given four months to design, build and programme the robots.

“We taught the students basics in robotics and showed them the creativity in science after which they made the robots themselves,” said Ganesh Dahate who along with his colleague Prashant Raut mentored the students over the weeks and accompanied them to Mumbai for the competition held on September 8.

For Aishwarya Nalwade, this competition has made her career goal clearer.

“I didn’t know what robots were. After I actually made one, I want to become an engineer when I grow up,” said the 14-year old who was amongst the six girls and four boys who won the competition.

The students were chosen from 4,000 students in their school and were given special training.

“We were never taught the science of robotics in school. It was interesting to learn and make our very own robot. I will make more such robots in the future,” said Shubham Bedgaonkar, another team member.